Completed ' A Venture Out To Shop '

[Neive]

Timestamp: 43rd Day of Spring, 515 AV Location: Mura, city center 　　　The faint sound of waves crashing upon the not too distant shore reached the young Konti's ears, as the bright rays of the sun streaming in through the open window above her bed stirred her from what seemed an endless sleep. It was the first time she had slept in a real bed, under a safe and secure roof - her roof - in nearly 12 years. Blinking away the crust of sleep from her slightly-almond shaped eyes, she smiled to herself. This is the first time in 12 years she has been able to wake up of her own accord, been able to wake up without the aches and pains of having to sleep on rough floors, with her chains digging into her wrists in the night - and it was pure bliss. 　　　Having slept for what must have been days, Neiva was forced to rise by the sudden eruption of gurgling and knotting pains from her stomach. She had slept in just her undergarments, so after quickly pulling on her simple shirt and pants, she set about rummaging through her backpack for breakfast. She wolfed it down like a crazed animal, and perhaps she was, but today that would change. She was in civilised culture now and she was eager to relearn the etiquette's of 'normal' life. She had been given some money to start her off in her new life and though her dreams had been plagued by the horrors of her past, she looked to the future with eager ferventness. 　　　There was so much she wanted to see and do, there was so much she had to do. As she took a quick count of what she had in her backpack however, she suddenly realised that the first thing was to buy herself some necessities! She had never bought anything before, remembering back to her childhood, it had been her mother who would have paid and bought things for her. At the happy memory of her mother, Neiva's hand unconsciously went to the silver heart-shaped key necklace resting on her collar bone. A ghost of a smile at remembering happier times crossed her pale lips, the loss of her mother still felt keenly in her heart. But present matters required her attention more urgently and dwelling on the loss of one she loved so dearly would not bring them back, nor would it solve her current dilemma. 　　　Shaking her mind free from the fleeting memory of her mother, Neiva quickly made a mental note of what she might need and shaking the all the contents of her backpack onto her bed, save for the purse of money, she hooked the otherwise now empty backpack onto one shoulder and set off. As she closed the front door to her one-roomed cottage behind her, she pulled a single blade of grass from the ground and slotted it securely between the door-frame and the simple wooden door. Should anyone intrude into her beloved cottage, the blade of grass would fall and she would know. It was the only thing she could think of that she had at her disposal that would alert her to any intruders, she would have to think about getting a lock for it further down the line. But for now, she turned into the shining sun and headed towards civilisation... * 　　　The center of Mura was abuzz with life! The streets filled with people selling their wares, kids playing and running, care-free and wild, like they should be. The crowded bustle and noise of the city center caused Neiva to pause mid-step, just before she was about to enter the main square, as she took a moment to take it all in. So many people, so many things going on all at the same time, merchants all vying for your attention, people rushing about their business. The craziness and closeness of all the people terrified Neiva, her heart pounded in her ears as her chest constricted. Eyes wide, her violet gaze darted manically from person to person, from stall to stall, the sounds of chatter, of laughter all just one big clash of noise blearing in her ears. Turning her back to the buzzing streets, Neiva squeezed her eyes shut-tight and tried to calm herself. She could do this, they were just people, they weren't interested in her, they weren't going to harm her... were they? 　　　Suddenly the last words her mother uttered to her as a child rung clear and strong through her mind, " ...be brave my daughter... ". It has been those words that had kept Neiva going all these years... and it was those words that reignited the fighter instinct within her. Taking a steadying breath, Neiva opened her eyes, her violet gaze ablaze with new determination as she turned to face the busy market square. She would just ignore the noise, hum that lullaby her mother used to sing to her, she would watch people's movements if they got too close to her, the rest she had to force herself to believe that they were good people. They were after all, HER people now. 　　　With an action plan firm in her mind, Neiva forced what smile she could and braved walking into the lion's den as it were, all the while her heart aflutter...

[Neive]

To acclimatise herself to the busy, new environment Neiva simply explored the city center, walking around until crowds of people didn't force her chest to seize and until she barely noticed the noise and chatter anymore. Though that ever skittish gaze of hers still warily watched those who came close, looking for any of the tell-tale signs that they were intending harm or going to strike. Once she felt she had explored all the different streets for long enough, making a mental map as she went, she took it upon herself to enter her first store. 　　　She made sure to choose one that was sparsely occupied, yet not completely empty so that she could move around freely without having eyes follow her every move. It was also so that she could watch how the customers conducted themselves, how exactly they went about purchasing an item. To most it must seem such a silly, trivial thing that one would have to learn the simple ritual of exchanging coin for an item, but to Neiva, it was something she had never done before. What if she didn't say the right thing? What if she missed some simple courtesy that could grossly offend the vendor? 　　　Upon entering the store, a soft chime sounded as Neiva closed the door behind her, eyes shifting from person to person, but none even so as glanced her way. Feeling more at ease, Neiva picked the most nonthreatening customer in the store and decided to shadow them for awhile. Copying the customer's movements, trying to mimic her mannerisms, to blend in. When another customer went up to the counter, behind which sat the vendor, seated on a nice wicker chair, Neiva edged closer to overhear the conversation, thankfully spoken in common. "Just these toiletries thank you," the customer placed the items she had taken from the shelving outlining the walls of the store, down onto the counter. The sales woman smiled and responded with "Of course" before quickly jotting down what looked to be some form of mathematics in a journal to her side, "That's 6 silver, 2 copper then please" 　　　Once the woman handed over the proper amount they said good day to one another and then the customer left with her items, the soft chime resounding through the air as the door closed gently behind her. Neiva stood, mouth ajar, it was so simple! They were kind to one another, something Neiva hadn't seen in a long while, but the transaction seemed pretty easy to grasp. Suddenly excited, Neiva went about looking at the shop's wares more intently, all the while running through the list of things she remembered being as necessities as a child. Toothbrush, toothpowder... what else? Suddenly walking past a shelf at eye level a light reflection glared into her eyes, catching Neiva's attention. It was small and round, looked like steel, perfectly shiny and in the middle she suddenly saw her face. It was like looking into the crystal-clearest lake on a perfect summer's day. 　　　It was odd to be looking back at herself and when her violet gaze traveled over her delicate features, she was almost transfixed. She could have stood there hypnotised for hours, but another customer reached past her to grab something off the shelf above her, muttering an apology, which brought Neiva back to the now. Without even looking at the price tag, Neiva quickly scooped it up. Shuffling around the shop a few more times, she also picked up a good looking wash basin. It wasn't overly large, but handy enough to carry the other items she intended to buy. 　　　Waltzing up to the counter, Neiva ran the conversation the other woman had with the vendor over in her mind, and with a child-like excited smile, she copied the transaction, "Just these thank you," Her palms were sweating with nerves and she found it hard to remain still, but the vendor smiled politely and made her sums in her journal, "That comes to 18 gold and 3 silver then please," 　　　That's when it dawned on her, she wasn't exactly sure how the Miza worked! Instead of letting herself get flustered by trying to work out how to pay the woman exact, Neiva just decided to over pay, rounding the transaction up to 19 gold, that would work right? Nervously Neiva placed 19 gold Mizas on the counter, her heart pounding. The sales woman didn't even blink and simply reached into a drawer beneath the counter and handed back 7 silver Mizas. Stunned Neiva tried to shield it from her face and quickly snatched up her items and her change, remembering just as she was about to turn away to thank the lady and wish her a good day. As she stepped back out into the racing atmosphere of the city center streets, Neiva suddenly felt a wave of joy flush over her. This shopping malarkey could be pretty fun!

[Neive]

With a rush of adrenaline - a completely different kind of adrenaline, Neiva had ever experienced before, a pleasant one! - she quickly used this momentum and new found confidence and knowledge to purchase some of the other necessities that were still on her mental list. 　　　Stopping off at a cookery store, Neiva began with lifting a cooking pot, it looked like it could hold a good gallon, which would be handy for making soup and boiling her water. She also picked up a long wooden cooking utensil and was eyeing the prettily decorated plates and bowls and cups all set out in neat, orderly sets on a table in the middle of the store, when her violet gaze caught sight of the most glorious picnic set. Laying open for all to see inside the beautifully, simple woven basket, was the softest blanket Neiva had ever felt. She hadn't even realised she had reached out and stroked the blanket, until it was from the soft material that her fingertips draped over to the cool steel cutlery sets neatly slotted in individual settings in the indent of the lid of the basket. 　　　On the bottom half of the basket it appeared the pinic set also came equipped with plates and bowls and cups, all the essentials one would need. The price tag next to the set seemed like it must be expensive, but the very thought of eating a cooked meal out in the open, in the breeze, the sunshine, seemed far beyond worth every miza. It was what she had yearned for her whole life, this picnic set represented freedom; for Neiva to be able to take her lunch with her where ever she wanted to go, was a joy and a dream, no amount of mizas could put a price on. And it was all hers, transaction paid for at a total of 5 Gold and 5 silver, Neiva packed her loose items into her backpack and off she went with her basin in one hand and her new picnic set in the other. 　　　The second purchase of items was not nearly as nerve wracking as the first had been and the fella who had served her, was just as kind as the sales woman before. Wishing someone goodwill and being courteous and kind was something that still shocked and perplexed Neiva, but she was oh so enjoying the warm, fuzzy feeling it gave her inside. * 　　　Neiva spent the next few hours gawking over several market stalls, she couldn't believe the range and different kinds of jewelry, clothing, art work and tools available and all these merchants mostly made everything by hand! That someone could make something so pretty, or shiny or intricate amazed Neiva as her eyes were being opened to a whole new world of possibilities. Her whole life she had seen slop for food, animal pelts and furs, never washed. But here, everything was cleansed, clothes were made of silks and cottons. 　　　It was when she passed a market stall which had a white, cotton, dress hung up right at the front of the stall, with a beautiful lace-trim design, that she finally had to pause. It looked exactly like the one her mother used to wear in the summer. Neiva couldn't resist the emotional attachment she felt towards the dress, even though she knew it was just sentimental feelings which were not practical in the real world. However her logical self kicked in, who argued she needed new clothes for when her simple shirt and pants needed washing. This logical argument easily overruled any nervousness or fears she had for asking the merchant behind the stall if it would fit her or not. It seemed today, was certainly a good day. At 7 gold Neiva invested in the white cotton dress and also treated herself to a used silk, chemise, dyed a beautiful pastel pink, although somewhat faded, she could use for a night gown. 　　　From various other stalls along her way Neiva picked up, ten tinder to help her start fires, as it usually took her hours! A blank book and ten pieces of charcoal were also added, for she fondly remembered that as a child she enjoyed sketching the sea. Picking up ten candles along side them, for it would also give her something to distract herself with should her night terrors keep her awake at night. Lastly buying herself a warm winter blanket, leaving her with 65 gold, 6 silver and 75 copper mizas, from the 100 gold she had set out with. Which she had now figured out equated with 10 silver equaling 1 gold and 100 copper equaling 10 silver. It had seemed completely baffling to her at the beginning of the day, yet now seemed to make perfect sense! 　　　With her backpack full, her arms laden with her wash basin and picnic set and her legs beginning to cramp, Neiva decided it was definitely time to head back home - to HER home, her own! However, just as she passed the last stall on her way out of the market square, a rich sweet scent caught her attention. To her right was a sweet stall, full with spices, candies, honey, nuts and... Cocoa! She knew she recognized that smell, even after all these years! At 15 gold for a pound, it was certainly the most expensive item she had purchased in the day. Yet floods of memories of the sweet warm nectar running down her throat when her mother had made it into a hot, soothing drink in winter when she was a child, completely forced her hand of course. 　　　Elated with her collected booty, Neiva's heart raced for an entirely different reason than it had that morning, she no longer feared brief interaction with people. She had exchanged pleasantries with her Konti kin, learning the proper etiquette as she went. With her new found knowledge of purchasing items, of kindness for the sake of being kind, for the first time in 12 years, Neiva felt like a real person, like she was apart of a society built on improving themselves and caring for one another. This had been Neiva's first steps in reconnecting with her past life. This had been her first steps in building a new one. 　　 　 「✉」Total Spent - 49 GM, 4 SM, 25 CM Items accounted for in Ledger

[Dravite]

Neiva

XP Award:

• Observation: 3
• Organisation: 1
• Trapping: 1
• Planning: 1
• Socialisation: 1
• Mathematics: 1
• Running: 1
• Logic: 1
• Bodybuilding: 1

Lore:

• Neiva: No longer a slave
• Observation: The sound of the waves crashing on the shore
• The love of a mother
• Neiva's first shopping trip
• Observation: Learning by watching others
• Mathematics: Rounding up or down to the nearest gold miza
• The joy of owning your own home
• A new dress

Notes: Hello, Neiva. What a beautiful little thread! I enjoyed reading this very much. I think it might have been overlooked when your CS was checked, but the Konti Race are natural swimmers, so you don't need points in swimming (just like Kelvic birds can fly). I suggest you move those 5 points into another skill before you reach 50 posts. In future, would you mind listing the items you bought with the prices you paid next to them, it would just make it a lot easier for graders to check. Also, the glass used for the door; unless you own something or have paid for it, try not to use it. All in all a great start! Let me know if you think I have missed anything here and be sure to edit your grading request!

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